Improvement in clothes-driers



B. C. K. LUCAS. Clothes-Driel'.

No. 218,821. Patented Aug. 26, 1879.

MPEYERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. wAsHxNGfoN. D C.

UN-Irnnsrnrns PATENT OFFICE.

lBERRI DGE C. KiV LUCAS, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS'.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-DRIERS.

Specication forming part of Letters yPatent No.2lS,S2l, dated August 26, 1879;.application filed May 24, 1879.

To all 'whom it may concerm,

Be it known that I, BERRIDGE G. K. LUcAs, of Peoria, in the county ofPeoria, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Glothes-Driers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being made to the annexed drawings, makinga part of this specication, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure l represents a perspective view; Fig. 2, a central vertical section, and Fig. 3 a plan view.

This invention relates to a wooden frame inclosed with any suitable fire-proof material for confining the heated air, the said frame having a box at the bottom with double sloping or upwardly-flaring walls, forming ues'to admit the heated air from a furnace, register, or other place, in combination with a series of horizon tal racks, (upon which to hang clothes,) suspended in the center from the top of the frame, the said racks-hav'ipg a lever by which they may be raised or lowered, a hinged swinging arm being provided to support the racks, as vwill be hereinafter more fully explained. l

I construct the drieiror apparatus as follows: A A represent the corner posts of the frame, the space between the posts forming separate square or oblong vertical panels B, each adjoining pair being hinged together at f. The edges of these/pairs are, in turn, united by means of hooks Tfr.

Each panel has two or more cross-bars, a b, (more, if the apparatus is to be placed in a high room,) at top and bottom.

Between the posts A and the bars a b is stretched painted muslin d. The lower bars, b, are placed at a little distance above the oor, leaving an opening, e, beneath each panel to admit the air of the room. Air is also received from the register, furnace, or stove, &c. One of the panels, atleast, is made so as to be opened for convenience of filling and emptying the racks D.

C is a cross-bar, hinged. to one of the top bars a of the frame, and extends across to and rests upon the opposite bar, or is folded down at against the panel on the outside of the latter when the apparatus is to be folded up and put away; but when in use said bar supports, by means of a ring, h, on its lower face, the clothes-racks D, by means of a vertical rod, F, and terminal hook t'. Said racks-of which there may be several-are supported horizontally upon said rod F, and are made double, each with a central horizontal bar,.g, and two parallel horizontal bars, m x, between each of which bars (of the respective racks) the clothes rods or wires are stretched, at a` distance of about three inches apart, the wires or rods in the upper rack being made about twice the width of those on the lower rack, and each being placed exactly over its fellow on the lower rack, the greater breadth being intended for the purpose of preventingthe articles-such as sheets, towels, dtd-from touching those on the lower rods, and of preserving a space between sepa-V rate articles for the ascent of. air.

The vertical hanger F is provid-ed with a hook, t', at its upper end, and a neck with a shoulder below it, to sustain the perforated bars g g of the racks D D, and a pin, m, at its lower end, to pass into the socket u in a swinging arm, K, hinged to one of the panels B,

, when the racks are lifted or let down (to ll or empty them) by means of the lever G,which is journaled at o in the upper end of one of the frames A. The inner end of saidlever has a jaw, which clasps the neck of the hanger F, while the outer end of the lever has a hanging handle, p, by which the former is elevated to raise and swing the hanger (with its racks) .from the cross-bar C, and lower the hangerpin m into the socket n of the arm K. This arm, as before said, is hinged to one of the posts of the frame, conveniently-that one.

against which the door closes-and terminates in a hinged leg, q, hung so as to passwith the arm K into the recess within the face of the door-frame, where the whole is secured by means of a button on the opposite post of the said door.

It will readily be seen that the hinged panels can be folded together lat, including their respective attachments.

H is the heat-radiator, intended tol receive and spread laterally to the sides ofv the apparatus the hot air issuing from afurnace, register, 8vo. It consists of a square `ilaring box, with double sloping or upwardlyaring walls u, between which the heated air asceuds and is deliected, and a central opening, t, for a vertical current. s is a register, beneath it.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as now, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The clothes -drier consisting of fra-mework inclosed with painted musln or canvas, forming panels B, and provided with a flaring double-walled tine-box at the bottom to con neet with a furnace, register, or other source of' heat, in combination witha series of clothes racks, D, arranged to be lifted up or let down by a lever, G, substantially as set forth.

2. Theclothes-drier having racks D, suspended by means of a hanger, F, from a crossbar, C,and arranged to be lifted up or let down by a lever, G, in combination with a hinged swinging arm, K, substantially as set forth.

3. The posts A A and bars a. b forming a framework to receive the painted7 muslim o1' tire-proof panels B, the lower bars, b, being set up between the posts to leave an opening, e, for the admission of air from the room, in combination with a double-walled tiuebox, H,and racks D, constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing dry ing apparatus I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of May, A. D. 1879.

BERRIDGE C. K. LUCAS.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL D. WEAD, G. H. MORGAN. 

